Value proposition

Helping cities across the Americas improve lives through well-managed, data-driven local governments.

Launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2015, What Works Cities is a national initiative that helps local governments across the country drive progress in their cities through the effective use of data and evidence.

What Works Cities’ programs include What Works Cities Certification, the first-ever national standard for data-driven local governance, and What Works Cities Economic Mobility, which works with nine American cities to address the strong demand among local leaders for more effective ways to address rising income inequality and declining economic mobility. To date, What Works Cities has supported over 150 cities in using data and evidence to tackle pressing challenges, such as health and safety, homelessness, and neighborhood blight.

In 2016, What Works Cities was named by Forbes as “one of the ten most promising philanthropic bets” of the year and by Engaging Local Government Leaders as the “most important company operating in the local government arena.”

Open data, Evidence-based governance, Civic technology, Performance management, Behavioral science, Results-driven contracting, and Citizenship engagement